Wetpixel’s first-ever live video hangout has just gone live (9am PST, June 5, 2012). Moderated by Wetpixel publisher Eric Cheng, the hangout features Wetpixel editor Adam Hanlon, noted underwater photographer Alex Mustard, Berkley White of Backscatter, and Ryan Canon of Reef Photo & Video. We are chatting about underwater use of the Nikon D800, Canon 5D Mark III, Olympus OM-D E-M5, mirrorless cameras, video monitors, and some of the locations we’ve been diving. Click through to see the live video or to ask us questions; if we’re no longer live, you’ll be able to watch the archive from the beginning.

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BBC Nature reports about a paper published in the journal “Coral Reefs” that pinpoints the cause of a mass stranding of crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) (COTS) as starvation. The starfish are well known for their voracious appetites for coral and the destruction that this predation causes. In this instance, the reefs around Ishigaki island, Japan, had an “outbreak” of (COTS) in 2009. At that time, the reefs had around 60% coral. The starfish have now reduced this to less than 1%, and the paper suggests that this lack of food caused a mass stranding with over 800 COTS emerging and dying on a beach in January 2012.

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If you’re interested in Wetpixel’s first live video hangout next Tuesday, June 5 (9am PST / 5pm BST), head on over to your Google+ account and install the Google voice and video plugin. Having a Google+ account and installing the plugin will ensure that you don’t miss the beginning of the Hangout; you can watch in the G+ environment and ask questions using the comment stream.

If you’re interested in watching but don’t want to register for Google+, there will also be a live YouTube video stream you can watch. We’ll post the link here when the Hangout starts.

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Wetpixel Associate Editor Alex Mustard has completed an extensive review of the Olympus OM-D-E5 micro 4/3 camera. This is, he feels, an important camera regardless of whether you are currently shooting an SLR, compact or an alternative EVIL camera. He finds that, despite a somewhat disappointing housing and some issues with lag when shooting fast-moving subjects, that:

“The E-M5 is a fine camera with strengths well suited to underwater photography. Its image quality is certainly a match for the popular DX/APS-C SLRs and therefore is entirely appropriate for large prints, publication and almost any use. It is a good all-rounder, but its abilities in shooting in low light are particularly noteworthy, given its remarkable ability at high ISO and image stabilization.”

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Wetpixel will be hosting its first Google+ live video hangout on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 9am PST / 12pm EST / 5pm BST. Joining us on the hangout will be Eric Cheng, Adam Hanlon, Alex Mustard, Berkley White (Backscatter), and Ryan Canon (Reef Photo & Video). We’ll chat about exciting new camera gear that photographers are using underwater (some of which we are in the process of reviewing), and get everyone’s opinions about the hottest dive destinations of 2012.

Check the front page of Wetpixel at 9am PST on June 5, and you’ll see a link to the live broadcast, as well as a place where you can ask questions in real-time. Questions will be pulled from the comment stream on the hangout page, so you’ll need to be logged into your Google+ account. See you on Tuesday!

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